Timer



1954 J. c; BURKHOLDER 2,670,039

TIMER Filed Aug. 30, 1951 [XTEIQA/ALL Y C'OIVTAOLLABLK COM STANI TIME lA/TfA VAL Tm? pp MA R y INTfRl/AL Inventor Co/WW Johw C. Bumwowm #19 WW M Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMER John C.-.Burkholder, Toronto,.0ntario,- Canada. Application August 30, 1951, SerialNo. 244,391

3- Glaims.

. 1 This. invention relates to a timer for battery chargers -orother. like apparatus or devices wherein: the complete time periodof operationis comprised of one interruptable maximum time interval joined to and followed by a constant-time interval;

For example, in the charging of batteries the whole charging period may be of the order of a about ten'hours.

ish the charging'of a battery at a lower charging rate for a period of about three hours independent of the time period of a previous high rate of approximately seven hours charging.

It is desirable, however, to fin- It. is usual to employ a number cf timersin such apparatus for accomplishing automatic switching functions to effect the desired result.

In" accordance withthe' present invention I provide a timing device which may be used for a battery charger having a primary maximumv time interval. For instance, it'is known that a battery may not be able to take more than a predetermined charging even over a greatly extended perlod of time. Thus, in all cases in an operation ofthi's-kind; thereis adeterminable maximum desired time interval. However, I may allow such primary timeiht'erva-l to be cut short by an exterior condition. Thus, I- may have a known controlin connection with abattery charging apparatus responsive to the charging of-the'battery which, when asatisfactory charge has been achieved; will automatically effect some signal. Co-incident with the giving of such signal the timer of" my invention automatically proceeds into a secondary and constant time interval.

Other objects of the invention will be appreciated by a study: of the renewin specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.-.

Inithe drawings:

Figure. 1' is a diagrammatic illustrationofthe timing function of my timer device.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device ofmy invention disposed within a suitable housing with the top cover of the housing removed.

Figure 3 is view 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a developed movement of the primary time interval cam of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is view 5-5 of Figure 2 illustrating the secondary time interval wheel.

Figure 6 illustrates the final position in the movement of the constant or secondary interval wheel of Figure 5.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, it will be observed in Figure 2 that I provide a suitable clock mechanism l0 havin a timing shaft l l extending therefrom to connect to the control shaft l.2 by a clutch sleeve f3. The clutch sleeve is of well known construction, being simply a length of tubing designed to fit snugly on the shafts I l and t2, but being slotted as at hi and I5; whereby the shaft [2. may berotate'd'bytheknob 16 on the free end thereof without rotating. the shaft H, but whereby the shaft I I may rotate the" shaft 12 through friction. developed. by the sleeve 13'.

The shaft l2 i'smounte'd' in housing H. such as in suitable bearings (not shown) in the side walls It and [9. thereof. A: primary time interval cam 20 is fixed to the shaft [2 by a suitablev bushing 2 I. The constant time interval or secondary wheel 22 is freelymounted on shaft I 2 but: held against movement. in. the direction of the knob l6 thereof by the bushing 23. A suitable spring 24 having-washers25- and 28'- extends between the cam. 20 and the wheel 22' to constitute a friction clutch device: whereby the wheel 22 is driven by the cam 2G and will? rotate with the shaft I'2:unless restrained by some exterior member. The wheel- 22 islheld" in. itsso-called zero position by means of a locking member 2.1- engaged ina slot 28: in theperiphery thereof, which locking member forms apart of the armature 23 of anelectromagnetlifl. A cambar projects from fixture to the wheel: 22" for engagement by the cam 2il'but in the'normal position of said-latter cam as-illustrated in Figure 3 is disposed in radial spaced relation from'the actuating face 32 of the cam. In Figures 3 to 6 it'should-be assumed that the shaft I2 is rotating in aclock-wise-direction.

In operation, the cam 20 and. the wheel 22 start from positions illustrated in Figures 3 and5 and with the rotation of the shaft [2- the cam 20' will be rotated in a clockwise direction while the wheel 22 is restrained by the locking member 2?. When the cam Z'El arrives atthe posit on illustrated in Figure 4 its switchingrecess 3"3Will be disposed to allow movement of the switch arm 34- of the electrical switch 35. The switch 35 is connected electrically in series with the electro-magnet 3E! and the source of electrical energy (not shown) for the latter, and under movement of its arm 34 to the position illustrated in Figure 4 the electrical circuit of the electro-magnet is closed causing energization of the latter and disengagement of the locking member 2 1 from the slot 2!; of the Wheel 22. At this point of operation the actuating face 32 of the cam 23 arrives to engage the cam bar 3! thus causing the wheel 22 to rotate with the cam 2t! in further rotational movement of the latter. It should be apparent .at this point that the arm 36 of the switch 35 may cause some exterior electrical circuit to be closed or opened, in which case the switch 35 may be of the multiple type but actuated by a single arm.

The wheel 22 is driven by the cam 20 from the position of the latter illustrated in Figure 2 until the wheel arrives at the position illustrated in Figure 6 until its switching recess 35 receives a switch arm 31 of a second switching device 38. Such switching device is, by suitable circuitry (not shown), connected to the clock mechanism In to stop the latter. Also the switch 38 may be of the multiple type and may include switching components controlling some other exterior circuit.

The description so far assumes that the primary time interval is effective over a set maximum time period such as is indicated in the movement of the time interval cam 20 from the position indicated in Figure 3 to that indicated in Figure 4. However, in between these two positions of the 'cam 20, an exterior signal derived from a particular operation to be controlled and known apparatus in conjunction therewith may independently actuate the relay 30 to cause the looking member 27 to disengage from the wheel 22. Therefore, the friction clutch device described extending between the cam is and wheel 22 causes the wheel 22 to be driven by the cam 26 even though the cam bar 3i may not be yet engaged by the actuating face 32 of the cam. It will thus be apparent that the wheel 22 is, accordingly, moved to effect the secondary time interval.

The re-setting of the timing device described is particularly important. It will be observed that the knob it may have a pointer 39 extending therefrom passing over the dial face 50 supported on the exterior surface of the side wall I 3 of the housing. Such dial face may show the words start and end as indicated. Assuming that the pointer 39 has been moved to the end of the dial face 46, the device is re-set by merely turning the knob l6 anti-clockwise until locking member 21 automatically falls into engagement with the slot 28 of the wheel 22 under action of:

the spring member 44. The pointer is further continuously moved to reset the timer components as it arrives at the "start end of the dial face. It should be appreciated that the particular switch device of the switch mechanism 38,

which controls the clock mechanism It must necessarily be of the re-set type of well-known construction so that the device may be re-set without causing the clock mechanism to start again unless caused to operate by some independent action of the operator.

It is intended that the present disclosure should not be construed in any limiting sense other than that indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a timer, a clock device, a control shaft,

means connecting said control shaft to said clock device for driving of said shaft thereby but enabling said shaft to be rotated independent 01' said clock device, a primary time interval cam fixed to said shaft and rotatable thereby from a starting position to an end position corresponding to the sum of a primary maximum time interval and a constant time interval, a constant time interval wheel freely mounted on said shaft, friction drive means extending between said cam and said wheel to cause driving of the latter by said cam, locking means for restraining said wheel against rotational movement by said drive means, means engageable with said cam for releasing said locking means when said cam moves to a position corresponding to the end of the said maximum time interval, separate means responsive to an exterior signal for releasing said locking means to allow said wheel to be driven by said cam before the latter has completed its maximum time interval, and means engageable with said wheel and operatively related with said clock device for arresting the latter when said wheel ha been rotated to complete said constant time interval.

2. A timer as claimed in claim 1, means on said shaft exposed to an operator whereby the operator may turn the shaft counter to its timing movement until the cam thereon arrives at its start position, a pointer on said shaft, and dial means associated therewith for indicating the position of said shaft in respect to the said primary maximum time interval and constant time interval of said timer.

3. A timer as claimed in claim 1, in which the locking means for said wheel comprises: an electrical solenoid having a movable armature member therein, said wheel having a notch therein adapted to be engagedL by said movable armature member, the said means engageable by said .cam being in the form of an electric switch having a switch arm disposed in engagement with the cam, and means connecting said switch electrically in series with said solenoid, a source of electrical power disposed in series with said switch and said solenoid, and a second electrical switch device disposed electrically in parallel with the first mentioned switch means and responsive to an exterior signal whereby either of said switch means may cause energization of said solenoid and release of the armature thereof from said constant time interval wheel.

JOHN C. BURKHOLDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,434,471 Rhodes Jan. 13, 1948 2,549,025 Sisson Apr. 17, 1951 2,580,287 Duvall Dec. 25, 1951 2,582,285 Schellens Jan. 15, 1952 

